Thread chain severing means for book sewing machines



Sept. 22, 1964 w. R. ZELTNER, JR

THREAD CHAIN SEVERING MEANS FOR BOOK SEWING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1961 INVENTOR EZeliner; r,

W ig

Sept. 22, 1964 w. R. ZELTNER, JR 3,149,595

THREAD CHAIN SEVERING MEANS FOR BOOK SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 27. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 22, 1964 w. R. ZELTNER, JR

THREAD CHAIN SEVERING MEANS FOR BOOK SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 27, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 22, 1964 w. R. ZELTNER, JR,

THREAD CHAIN SEVERING MEANS FOR BOOK SEWING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 27. 1961 Sept. 22, 1964 w. R. ZELTNER, JR

THREAD CHAIN SEVERING MEANS FOR BOOK SEWING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 27, 1961 p ;V/////////////////////a,.

VIII/101111 United States Patent 3,149,595 THREAD CHAIN SEVERING MEANS FOR BOOK SEWING MACHINES Walter R. Zeltner, Jr., Niles, Ill., assignor to Rand Mc- Nally 8; Company, a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 162,336 Claims. (Cl. 112-252) This invention relates to book forming means and in particular to book stitching apparatus.

A conventional form of book stitching apparatus is one having means for intermittently advancing a plurality of uniformly spaced books along a preselected path and stitching means adjacent the path arranged to stitch the books seriatim with a continuous thread, whereby a portion of the thread extends between successive books. Heretofore, it has been necessary to employ manual labor in cutting the portion of the thread extending between the books as no automatic device had been developed for satisfactorily cutting the thread without undesirable deformation of at least some of the books. In addition to cutting the thread between the books, there is the problem of trimming the loose ends of the threads on the trailing edge of the book. Previously, hand operation was also required to accomplish this trimming.

One of the features of the instant invention is the provision of a new and improved cutting mechanism for use in a book stitching apparatus to cut and remove the thread extending between successive books without deformation of the books.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a cutting mechanism including a wheel having a shap peripheral edge, means rotating the wheel, means reciprocating the wheel perpendicular to its axis of rotation between a first position spaced from the path of the books during the advance of the books and a second position wherein the sharp edge cuts the thread during non-advance of the books, and a stop fixed accurately a preselected distance from the axis of the wheel to engage the book adjacent the wheel edge and limit the movement of the wheel toward the book thereby to assure that said edge cuts substantially only the thread.

A further feature of the invention is the provision therein of means for compensating for the dulling of the wheel edge, comprising means for rotating the wheel adjustably at any one of a plurality of different speeds.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a cutting mechanism including means for compensating for the dulling of the wheel edge comprising a device adjustably fixing'the stop relative to the wheel axis.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of such a cutting mechanism having a pair of coaxially spaced wheels each having a sharp peripheral edge, the sharp edge of one wheel being arranged to cut the thread at the trailing portion of one book and the sharp edge of the other wheel being arranged to cut the thread at the leading portion of the succeeding book, and means for adjustably spacing the wheels for accurate positioning of the respective cuts.

Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of such a cutting mechanism arranged for use in a book stitching apparatus having a continuously rotating drive and means operated by the drive for intermittently advancing the books, wherein the wheel reciprocating means includes a cam continuously rotated by the drive and having an actuating portion of small circumferential extent, and means actuated by the cam portion only during a portion of the time of non-advance of the books to position the cutting wheel in the thread cutting position.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a cutting mechanism arranged to cut the thread after a ice preselected plurality of advances of the book, the reciprocating means including a wheel mover, means potentiating the wheel mover during each advance of the books for reciprocation of the wheel between the spaced and thread cutting positions, and means controlling the potentiating means to permit reciprocation of the wheel once only after each of said plurality of advances of the books.

An additional feature of the invention is the provision, in such a cutting mechanism having a pair of coaxial cutting wheels adjacent one face of the books, of a third cutting wheel adjacent the other face of the books and having a sharp peripheral edge selectively disposable in a first position spaced from the other face of the books and a second position wherein the sharp edge cuts the thread on the other face during non-advance of the books and a stop fixed accurately a preselected distance from the axis of the wheel to engage said other face adjacent the wheel edge and limit the movement of the wheel toward the book thereby to assure that said edge cuts substantially only the thread.

' Yet another additional feature is the provision in such a mechanism of a recess along one edge of the stop members receiving the thread whereby the stop members straddle the thread to be cut.

A further feature is the provision in such a mechanism of an adjustable means for accurately positioning the cutting wheels to provide for cutting of the thread by the portion of the wheels most closely adjacent to the book. The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The organization and manner of operation of the invention together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like'reference numerals identify like elements, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic isometric view of a portion of a book stitching apparatus having a cutting mechanism embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the cutting mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation partly in cross section of the cutting mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section along the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view of the cutting mechanism taken along lines 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6 6 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a view taken along lines 77 of FIG- URE 6; i

FIGURE 8 is a side view of the cutting mechanism;

and i FIGURE 9 is a view along lines 9-9 in FIGURE 6.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawings, a book stitching apparatus generally designated 10 includes a conveyor 11 operated by a drive mechanism 12 driven by a motor 13 to advance intermittently a plurality of uniformly spaced books 14 along a preselected path. A stitching device '15 is disposed adjacent the path of books 14 on conveyor 11 and is arranged to stitch the books seriatim with a continuous thread 16 whereby a portion'17 of the thread extends between successive books. Such book stitching apparatus is conventional in the book forming art and is well-known to those skilled therein.

The instant invention is concerned with the removal of thread portion 17 and a loose end of thread designated as 17a and comprehends a cutting mechanism generally designated 18 integrated with the book stitching apparatus for automatic operation therewith. Broadly, the cutting mechanism includes a pair of coaxially spaced wheels taken substantially 19, and a third wheel 21 each having a sharp peripheral edge adapted to cut the threads 17 and 17a. The pair of wheels are coaxially spaced so that at the time of cutting thread 16, wheel 20 is disposed over a trailing portion 22 of book 14a and wheel 1% is disposed over a leading portion 23 of a succeeding book 14b. The wheels are rotated at a high speed by variable drive mechanisms 25, 25'; in this case air driven motors actuated at variable speeds from a source of pressurized air (not shown).

The wheels 19 and 20 are independently reciprocated generally vertically, perpendicular to the axis of rotation thereof between a first position spaced upwardly from the path of movement of the books during advance of the books, and a second position wherein the wheels cut through the longitudinal portion 17 of the thread 16 during non-advance of the books. The means for so reciproeating the wheels herein comprises a solenoid 29 for wheel 19 and a solenoid 30 for wheel 20. A drive mechanism is also provided for wheel 21 to reciprocate it between a first position spaced from the books during travel of the books and a second position wherein wheel 21 cuts the thread 17a. The solenoids are controlled by an impulse counter switch 31 and a series connected actuator switch 32. Actuator switch 32 isclosed momentarily during each cycle of book stitching apparatus by eccentric cam 33 and a cam follower 34. Conventionally, conveyor 11 advances the books a small distance during each of its intermittent advancing operations to permit the stitcher needle 35 to engage the book only during a non-advance thereof. In addition, a circuit (not shown) connects impulse counter switch 31 to the actuating solenoid for wheel 21 so that it too cuts the thread only during the period of non-advanceof the books.

Thus, depending on the length of the book, the conveyor effects a preselected plurality of advances of a book in moving it to the position occupied by a preceding book. Illustratively, the arrangement of the books and the amount of the advance efifected in each step by conveyor 11 may be such that seventeen such advancing steps are required to move book 14b to the position occupied by book 14a as shown in FIGURE 1. During each advance step, control switch 32 is closed by cam 33. However, impulse counter switch 31 prevents. the operation of the solenoids 29 and 30 during the first sixteen closings of switch 32 and allows operation of the solenoids only on the seventeenth operation of the switch. Thus, switch 32 potentiates the solenoids for reciprocating the wheels 19, 20, and 21, but impulse counter switch 31 controls the operation to permit reciprocation of the wheels by the closing of switch 32 only once during each seventeen advances of the conveyor. The impulse counter switch and actuator switch are of conventional construction and require no further description herein.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURES 2 through 9, cutting mechanism 18 comprises a base 36 secured to the frame F of the book stitching apparatus by suitable means. Upstanding from opposite ends of the base 36 is a pair of posts 38. A cross bar 39 extends horizontally between the upper ends of the posts 38 and is secured thereto by suitable means. A carriage 41 is provided at its opposite side with slide bars 42 vertically U-shaped slide members 48, 49 engage the upper parts of carriage 41 and U-shaped slide members 50, 51 encompass the lower portion of carriage 41. 'Members .48 and 50 are joined by a bracket 52, while members 49 and 4 51 are joined by a bracket 53. The slide bars 48, 49, 50, and 51 along with their coupling brackets 52 and 53 serve to support solenoids 29 and 30 in approximate axial alignment.

The support for solenoids 29, 30 consist of a pair of support members 54, 54' and having plates 55 and 55 fastened thereto by suitable means. Each of the plates has a collar 56 and 56' held by a force fit to plates 55, 55'. The solenoids, 29, 3%) are rigidly mounted to the support members 54; 54' with their shafts in approximate coaxial alignment.

A pair of knurled knobs 57, 57' are provided having. rods 58, 53 attached thereto and respectively engaged by threads with the collars 56, 56'. The hand of the threads is such that rotation of both knobs in one direction of rotation moves the solenoid support members 54, 54' in a similar direction ie both to the left, or both to the right. Alternatively, individual rotation of the knobs 57, 57 provides for adjustment of the spacing between the two solenoid supports, and hence between the two wheels 19 and 2tl.

The position of the knobs 57, 57' is maintained with respect to the carriage 41 by a U-shaped member 59 suitably fixed to the carriage. A locking arrangement for maintaining knobs 57, 57 in a predetermined position is provided for by a rod 60 spring loaded by springs 61, 62 against the outer periphery of the knobs. Formed in the knobs are a series of slots 64 for engaging the rods 69. The action of the springs is such that adjustment may be made of the knobs by rotation thereof during which time the rod 61) is depressed against the springs and once a desired position is obtained the rod moves up into locking engagement with the knobs. As shown in FIGURE 3, adjusment of knob 47 raises and lowers the'entire solenoid support assembly, and adjustment of the knobs 57, 57', as shown in FIGURES 3 and 6, positions the solenoids along their axes with respect to each other and provides for variation in the spacing therebetween.

Relative axial alignment between the two solenoids is accomplished by the following structure. Support members 54, 54' are slidably engaged with members '48, 50 and 49, 51 respectively and are adjustable with respect thereto by a pair of knurled knobs 65, 65' having thread rods 66, 66 extending through brackets 52, 53 and engaging threaded portions of members 54, 54. Locking bars 67, 67' serve to prevent rotation of knobs 65, 65 after desired alignment has been accomplished. These adjustments also serve to position wheels 19, 20 so that the thread is cut by the portion of the wheel whose tangent is substantially parallel to the plane of the conveyor 11; This adjustment allows the cutting of the thread 17 to be accomplished by the portions of wheels 19, 20 most closely adjacent to the books.

Positioning the Wheels 19 and 20 between a first position which allows passage of the books during the stitching operation and a second position which provides for cutting the threads 17 is accomplished in the following manner.

A pair of support members 70, 71 are slidably engaged for vertical movement with slots 72, 73 of members 52, 53. Support members 75), 71 have a substantially rectangular configuration and have stops 74 and 75 formed on the lower edge thereof (FIGURE 1). Stop 75, shown in detail in FIGURES 7 and 8, consists of a pair of projections 76 and 77 which define an aperture for straddling the-thread to be cut and at the same time 'limitthe vertical travel of support members '71 preventing the cutting wheel 20 from cutting into the book.

A pair of shafts 78 and 78a extending from the solenoids 29, 30 have respective projecting arms 79, 8%). A ball-shaped driving member 81 fastened to arm 79 by means 81' is confined between a pair of projections 82, 83 fastened to the support member '71. It is to be understood that similar provision is made for driving the sup- W amport member 71 from solenoid 30. For purposes of discussion, this construction is shown in detail in FIGURE 9.

In operation of the mechanism, when a book is posi tioned to have the thread 17 cut, the impulse counter switch 31 closes a circuit which actuates the solenoids 29 and 30. The shafts 78 and 78a are rotated as shown in FIGURE 7 and ball-shaped member 81 is turned in a clockwise direction to bear against projection 83 and force the support member 71 in a downward direction. Downward travel of member 71 continues until stop 75 comes firmly to rest against the book 14b and straddling thread 16.

A series of posts 84, 85, 86 and 87 are provided on support members 52 and 53. In addition, a corresponding number of posts 88, 89, 911 and 91 are mounted in pairs on support members 70, 71. Springs 92, 93, 94 and 95 fastened between respective posts are provided for returning the members 70, 71 to the first positions after the cutting operation has been performed. Upon de-energization of solenoids 29 and 30, the springs cause members 70, 71 to move in the vertically upward direction.

Variation in the depth of cut of wheels 19, 20 with relationship to stops 74, 75 is provided as follows. Vari- I able speed air motor 25 is mounted on a mounting slide 96 which is confined in slots on mounting bracket 71 for vertical movement. Similarly, motor 25' is mounted on a mounting member 7 confined for vertical sliding motion by slots in member 70. Mounting members and 97 are threadably engaged with bolts 98 and 99 and are held in an adjustable position thereby. A pair of spring loaded locking bars 100', 101 are provided for engaging the knobs of bolts 98, 99 to lock the mounting plates in fixed position after a desired adjustment has been made. I

Air motors 25, 25' have shafts which engage respectively a pair of collars 102, 103. Bolts 104 and 105 which screw into a threaded portion of the shafts firmly aifix the collars to the shaft. Wheels 19 and 2d are affixed to the collars 1G2, 103 respectively by screws 1116. The smaller section of collars 1112, 1193 are generally circular in shape but have two substantially flat portions 1117. Wheels 19, 20 are formed with apertures therein which are adapted to fit over the smaller section of the collars and are.

keyed by the fiat portions to serve as part of the means for torque transmission from the air motor shafts. In addition, screws 1% provide a frictional joining ofthe wheels 19, Ztl to the larger portion of the collarsltiZ, 1113. The. construction of the collars which provides for the screws being placed at a substantial distance from the center of the shaft allows for a reduction in size of bolts and aids in the ready replaceability of the wheels 19 and 21). A pair of wheel guards 108 are provided encompassing a major portion of the periphery of rotating wheels 19, 20. They serve as a safety feature for the cutting device, and a guide for placing the wheels.

FIGURES 3, 5 and 8 show the details of the mounting of third wheel 21 which is provided for removing the section of thread 17a.

In general, wheel 21 is mounted on the free end of an arm 110 which in turn is pivotally mounted about a shaft 111 bolted to a plate 121. A solenoid 113 actuated by the impulse counter 31 is mechanically coupled in arm 11%) by a collar 113. When an impulse is received which actuates the wheel 21 from a first position which is spaced from the line of travel of the books to a second position wherein it cuts the thread 17a, the air solenoid is actuated driving shaft 111 in an upward direction and the wheel 21 is brought into engagement with the thread to be cut. After the cutting operation, the air is cut off and the cutting wheel is allowed to drop back to its first position. 7

In the illustrated embodiment, means are provided for adjusting cutting wheel 21 to accommodate books of various size including the following structure. More specifically, a pair of support brackets 114, 115 are rigidly affixed to frame member 36 by a series of screws 116. A pair of rotatable rods 117 and 118, having a pair of gears 119, 120 mounted thereon are carried by the brackets 114, 115 and are spaced so that the gears mesh. A rotatable knob 131 mounted on shaft 117, provides the driving torque for the adjusting operation. Rod 118 has a threaded portion adapted to engage threaded apertures in plates 121, 122. A shaft 124 rigidly fixed to member 110 rotatably supports wheel 21 and a pulley 125 coupled thereto. A second pulley 126 driven by a suitable drive means in this instance an air motor 126' is in substantially planar alignment with pulley 125 and is coupled thereto through a drive belt 127. Rotation of the drive pulley 126 rotates the driven pulley 125 and in turn wheel 21 to perform the cutting operation.

Upward travel of arm 110 is limited by the adjustable nut and bolt combination 128. As with the other cutting wheels it is desirable to operate wheel 21 into a second position wherein it completely cuts the thread but it does not damage the book. Rotation of knob 131, drives gear 119, rotating rod 118 and driving the plates 121, 122 horizontally to adjust the position of wheel 21to its desired predetermined setting.

As shown a slot 12% is provided to accommodate the thread sewn to books as they travel down the conveyor 11. proper alignment so that the cutting operation may be performed.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a book stitching apparatus having means for intermittently advancing a plurality of uniformly spaced books along a preselected path and stitching means adjacent said path arranged to stitch the books seriatim with a continuous thread whereby a portion of the thread extends between successive books, a cutting mechanism adjacent said path arranged to cut the thread to remove said portion thereof, comprising: a pair of coaxially spaced wheels each having a cutting edge; means rotating said wheels; means reciprocating said wheels perpendicularly to their axis of rotation between a first position spaced from said path during advance of the books and a second position wherein said sharp edge of one wheel cuts said thread at the trailing portion of one book and the sharp edge of the other wheel cuts said thread at the leading portion of the succeeding book during non-advance of the books; and stops fixed accurately a preselected distance from said axis to engage the books adjacent said wheel edges and limit the movement of the wheels toward the books, thereby to assure that said edges cut substantially only the thread.

2. The cutting mechanism of claim 1 including a first device adjustably fixing relative to said wheel axis the first stop adjacent said one wheel, and a second device adjustably fixing relative to said wheel axis independently of the first stop the second stop adjacent said other wheel. '3. In a book stitching apparatus having means for intermittently advancing a plurality of uniformly spaced books along a preselected path and stitching means adjacent said path arranged to stitch the books seriatim with a continuous thread whereby a portion of the thread extends between successive books, a cutting mechanism adjacent said path arranged to cut the thread to remove said portion thereof, comprising: a pair of wheels each having a sharp peripheral edge; means rotating said Wheels at any one of a plurality of speeds; and means reciprocating each of said wheels perpendicularly to its axis of rotation thereof between a first position spaced from A guide bracket 139 serves to guide the books into.

said path during advance of the books and a second position wherein said sharp edge of one wheel cuts said thread overlying the trailing portion of one book and the sharp edge of the other wheel cuts said thread overlying the leading portion of the succeeding book during non-advance of the books.

4. In a book stitching apparatus having means for intermittently advancing a plurality of uniformly spaced books along a preselected path and stitching means adjacent said path arranged to stitch the books seriatim with a continuous thread whereby a portion of the thread extends between successive books, a cutting mechanism adjacent said path arranged to cut the thread to remove said portion thereof, comprising: a pair of coaxial, adjustably spaced wheels each having a sharp peripheral edge; means rotating the wheels; and means reciprocating each of said wheels perpendicularly to its axis of rotation thereof between a first position spaced from said path during advance of the books and a second position wherein said sharp edge of one wheel cuts said thread overlying the trailing portion of one book and the sharp edge of the other wheel cuts said thread overlying the leading portion of the succeeding book during non-advance of the books.

5. In a book stitching apparatus having means for intermittently advancing a plurality of uniformly spaced books along a preselected path and stitching means adjacent said path arranged to stitch the books seriatim with, a continuous thread whereby a portion of the thread extends between successive books, a cutting mechanism adjacent said path arranged to cut the thread to remove said portion thereof, comprising: a wheel having a sharp peripheral edge; means rotating said wheel; means reciprocating said cutting means perpendicularly to its axis of rotation between a first position spaced from said path during advance of the books and a second position wherein said cutting edge cuts said thread during non-advance of the books; and a stop fixed accurately a preselected distance from said axis to engage the book adjacent said cutting edge and limit the movement of the cutting means toward the book, thereby to assure that said edge cuts substantially only the thread.

6. The cutting mechanism of claim 5 including a device adjustably fixing the stop relative to said wheel axis.

7. In a book stitching apparatus having means for intermittently advancing a plurality of uniformly spaced books along a preselected path and stitching means adjacent said path arranged to stitch the books seriatim with a continuous thread whereby a portion of the thread extends between successive books, a cutting mechanism adjacent said path arranged to cut the thread to remove said portion thereof, comprising: a wheel having a sharp peripheral edge; adjustable means rotating said wheel at any one of a plurality of speeds; and means reciprocating said wheel perpendicularly to its axis of rotation between a first position spaced from said path during advance of the books and a second position wherein said sharp edge cuts a portion of said thread overlying said books during non-advance of the books.

8. In a book stitching apparatus having a continuously rotating drive, means operated by the drive for intermittently advancing a plurality of uniformly spaced books along a preselected path and stitching means adjacent said path arranged to stitch the books seriatim with a continuous thread whereby a portion of the thread extends between successive books, a cutting mechanism adjacent said path arranged to cut the thread to remove said portion thereof, comprising: a wheel having a sharp peripheral edge; means rotating said wheel; and means reciprocating said wheel perpendicularly to its axis of rotation between a first position spaced from said path during advance of the books and a second position wherein said sharp edge cuts said thread during non-advance of the books, said reciprocating means including a cam continuously rotated by the drive and having an actuating portion of small circumferential extent, and means actuated by said portion only during a portion of the time of non-advance of the books to position said wheel in the second position.

9. In a book stitching apparatus having a continuously rotating drive means operated by the drive for intermittently advancing a plurality of uniformly spaced books along a preselected path and stitching means adjacent said path arranged to stitch the books seriatim with a continuous' thread whereby a portion of the thread extends between successive books, a cutting mechanism adjacent said path arranged to cut the thread after a preselected plurality of advances of the books to remove said portion thereof, comprising: a wheel having a sharp peripheral edge; means rotating said wheel; and means reciprocating said wheel perpendicularly to its axis of rotation between a first position spaced from said path during advance of the books and a second position wherein said sharp edge cuts said thread during non-advance of the books, said reciprocating means including a wheel mover, means potentiating the wheel mover during each advance of the books for reciprocating the wheel between said positions, and means controlling the potentiating means to permit reciprocation of the wheel once only after each of said plurality of advances of the books.

10. In a book stitching apparatus having means for intermittently advancing a plurality of uniformly spaced books along a preselected path and stitching means adjacent said path arranged to stitch the books seriatim with a continuous thread whereby a portion of the thread extends between successive books, a cutting mechanism adjacent said path arranged to cut the thread to remove said portion thereof, comprising: means reciprocating said wheel perpendicularly to its axis of rotation between a first position spaced from said path during advance of the books and a second position wherein said sharp edge cuts said thread during non-advance of the books; and a stop fixed accurately a preselected distance from said axis to engage the book adjacent said wheel edge and limit the movement of the wheel toward the book, thereby to assure that said edge cuts substantially only the thread.

11. In a book stitching apparatus having means for intermittently advancing a plurality of uniformly spaced books along a preselected path and stitching means adjacent said path arranged to stitch the books seriatim with a continuous thread whereby a portion of the thread extends between successive books,-a cutting mechanism adjacent said path arranged to cut the thread to remove said portion thereof, comprising: a frame; a vertically adjustable carriage carried by said frame; a pair of drive devices mounted on said carriage for horizontal movement; horizontal positioning means coupling said drive devices for dependently and independently positioning said drive devices; a pair of support members individually supported by said drive devices having first and second positions and actuable between said positions by said drive devices; a pair of coaxial spaced wheels each having a sharp peripheral edge individually mounted in said support members; means for rotating said wheels; and 0 stops fixed to said support members a predetermined distance from said axis to vengage the books adjacent said wheel edges and limit the movement of said brackets toward the books, thereby to assure that said edges cut substantially only the thread. I

12. In a 'book stitching apparatus having means for intermittently advancing a plurality of uniformly spaced books along a preselected path and stitching means adjacent said path arranged to stitch the books seriatim With a continuous thread whereby a portion of the thread extends between successive books, a cutting mechanism adjacent said path arranged to cut the thread to remove said portion thereof, comprising: a frame; a vertically adjustable carriage carried by said frame; a pair of drive devices mounted on said carriage for horizontal movement; horizontal positioning means coupling said drive devices for dependently and independently positioning said drive device; a pair of support members individually supported by said drive devices having a first position spaced from books and second positions adjacent said books and actuable between said position by said drive devices; a pair of coaxial spaced wheels each having a sharp peripheral edge individually mounted in said support members; means for rotating said wheels, said support members having apertures formed along one edge thereof adjacent said wheel for straddling said thread; and stops fixed to said brackets a predetermined distance from said axis to engage the books adjacent said wheel edges and limit the movement of said brackets toward the books, thereby to assure that said edges cut substantially only the thread.

13. In a book stitching apparatus having means for intermittently advancing a plurality of uniformly spaced books along a preselected path and stitching means adjacent said path arranged to stitch the books seriatim with a continuous thread whereby a portion of the thread extends between successive books and a portion of the thread extends below said books, a cutting mechanism adjacent said path arranged to cut the thread to remove said portions thereof, comprising: a pair of coaxially spaced wheels each having a sharp peripheral edge; means rotating said wheels; means reciprocating said wheels perpendicularly to their axis of rotation between a first position spaced from said path during advance of the books and a second position wherein said sharp edge of one wheel cuts said thread at the trailing portion of one book and the sharp edge of the other wheel cuts said thread at the leading portion of the succeeding book during non-advance of the books; stops fixed accurately a preselected distance from said axis to engage the books adjacent said wheel edges and limit the movement of the wheels toward the books, thereby to assure that said edges cut substantially only the thread; a third wheel having a sharp peripheral edge adjustably mounted to said frame; means for rotating said third wheel; means for positioning said wheel between a first position spaced from said books and a secend position wherein said wheel cuts said thread extending below said books, said third wheel being positioned 10 adjacent the side of said books opposite to said pair of wheels.

14. A book stitching apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a horizontally adjustable member atfixed to said apparatus and positioned on the side of said intermittently advancing means opposite said pair of coaxial spaced wheels; means including an arm pivotally mounted to said horizontally adjustable member; a third wheel having a sharp peripheral edge mounted on the free end of said arm, means for moving said arm from a first position spaced from said books to a second position for cutting portions of said thread extending below said books and beyond said stitches.

15. In a book stitching apparatus having means for intermittently advancing a plurality of uniformly spaced books along a preselected path and stitching means adjacent said path arranged to stitch the books seriatim with a continuous thread whereby a portion of the thread extends between successive books, a cutting mechanism adjacent said path arranged to cut the thread to remove said portion thereof, comprising: cutting means having a cutting edge; means actuating said cutting means; means reciprocating said cutting means perpendicularly to its axis of actuation between a first position spaced from said path during advance of the books and a second position wherein said cutting edge cuts said thread during non-advance of the books; and a stop fixed accurately a preselected distance from said axis to engage the book adjacent said cutting edge and limit the movement of the cutting means toward the book, thereby to assure that said edge cuts substantially only the thread.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 681,149 Sullivan Aug. 20, 1901 852,375 Carlton Apr. 30, 1907 1,589,784 Bates June 22, 1926 2,711,703 Duby June 28, 1955 3,024,746 Hildmann Mar. 13, 1962 

1. IN A BOOK STITCHING APPARATUS HAVING MEANS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ADVANCING A PLURALITY OF UNIFORMLY SPACED BOOKS ALONG A PRESELECTED PATH AND STITCHING MEANS ADJACENT SAID PATH ARRANGED TO STITCH THE BOOKS SERIATIM WITH A CONTINUOUS THREAD WHEREBY A PORTION OF THE THREAD EXTENDS BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE BOOKS, A CUTTING MECHANISM ADJACENT SAID PATH ARRANGED TO CUT THE THREAD TO REMOVE SAID PORTION THEREOF, COMPRISING: A PAIR OF COAXIALLY SPACED WHEELS EACH HAVING A CUTTING EDGE; MEANS ROTATING SAID WHEELS; MEANS RECIPROCATING SAID WHEELS PERPENDICULARLY TO THEIR AXIS OF ROTATION BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION SPACED FROM SAID PATH DURING ADVANCE OF THE BOOKS AND A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN SAID SHARP EDGE OF ONE WHEEL CUTS SAID THREAD AT THE TRAILING PORTION OF ONE BOOK AND THE SHARP EDGE OF THE OTHER WHEEL CUTS SAID THREAD AT THE LEADING PORTION OF THE SUCCEEDIN BOOK DURING NON-ADVANCE OF THE BOOKS; AND STOPS FIXED ACCURATELY A PRESELECTED DISTANCE FROM SAID AXIS TO ENGAGE THE BOOKS ADJACENT SAID WHEEL EDGES AND LIMIT THE MOVEMENT OF THE WHEELS TOWARD THE BOOKS, THEREBY TO ASSURE THAT SAID EDGES CUT SUBSTANTIALLY ONLY THE THREAD. 